14905/Here there be Dragons

From United Heroes MUSH
Jump to navigation Jump to search
Here there be Dragons
Date of Scene: 08 April 2023
Location: Savage Land, Savage Land and Pangea
Synopsis: Nick got to see Dinotopia. That is, the beauty and primordial existence of the Savage lands. And there was a dino-ride and questions asked and answered. And a fish supper.
Cast of Characters: Sinister, Lucifer, Phantasm (Drago)




Sinister has posed:
So this was promised, a visit via the forthright powers of the very devil himself, able to cross space of this world with a puff of brimstone and a whim. Such things are certainly easier when the Lord of Hell has been to the places before, but there we go. The Ankylosaurus that was rescued from NYC zoo arrived ahead of them, brought by the enveloping arms of the tentacle mecha that is Sin's lab AI, through his electrically supercharged seven point in space telemetry teleporter.

And even if one knows that one is in Antarctica, it sure feels like the primordial jungle. The humidity level is a recipe for bad hair days, but the landscape? The land that Time Forgot, did not exist in the darkest of Africa, or even in the jungles of the Amazon. It existed in the shadow of Mount Erebus, in Antarctica.

And there really are dinosaurs -- it is one of those moments where when one appears on the plateau that houses this semi-secret underground lab (with viewing pods), one could imagine what the characters of Jurassic park felt on seeing the rolling grasslands for the first time. Sinister breathes the air, a deep, solid lungful as the roar of a brachiosaur trumpets over the edge of the plateau and lake at its base.
Lucifer has posed:
Truth that Lucifer has been here before. Perhaps even a few times. This place very reminiscent of Eden to the point that the first time he was here, he became the Serpent - quite literally - and coiled among the trees as he had done once upon an eon or so ago.

Then there was the time that they came back to deal with geothermic elementals that were being naughty in the main volcanic area. Lucifer got to ride in the lava! On a submarine type craft of course. Fun times have been had here, and now they are back.

This time, it's with a dinosaur taken straight from the NYC zoo and brought here to be evaluated and perhaps released among it's peers within the Savage Land itself. Where dinosaurs roam free and happy - because contrary to popular belief - they did not, all of them, die out.

Or perhaps, this is actually a live version of Jurrasic Park, and Sinister is the park keeper. Just...able to do it better. "So. What's first?"
Phantasm (Drago) has posed:
Nick has seen a lot of things in his life. He's seen normal things. He's seen odd things. He's seen hybrid creatures, angels, vampires, and fish monsters. Heck, he's seen someone wearing nothing but a-

*Ahem*

Let's just move away from that thought before it completes shall we? Suffice to say, even without the dream travel, in the entertainment industry alone you meet a lot of characters.

But he's never seen this place before. And why would he? Dinosaurs don't book concerts or cast people in movies.

At least he doesn't think they do.

Either way, the view of this scenery is new to him and being the odds of him seeing it again after this trip are probably slim to none, he takes a long moment to quietly look the scenery, taking in as much detail as he can. If he's lucky, he'll remember enough to make a decent sketch of the scene later on.

Wow.
Sinister has posed:
"I think we give the man a moment to absorb," Sinister replies, with a soft tone, watching across his nose as Nick does just that, smiles and looks back to Lucifer with a light elbow nudge. "For me, this place is a scientific playground. I am aware though, that there are potent mystical energies that permeate the primordial here, indeed were tapped in some situations to improve the sustainability of the environmental generators. But I can only sense the major ones with equipment. -That- might be quite fascinating? For ..." he gestures toward the singer, looking back after. "Or, you know, just being able to pet a gally would be a thing. Or a Trike."
Lucifer has posed:
Lucifer nods a little and smirks at the elbow nudge. "Mmn, yes. The mystical energy around here is potent. A shame you cannot take it in without one of your machines because it's a glorious feeling to be around such...potential." Lucifer says this and then takes a few steps towards one of the windows that allows one to look out amongst Eden 2.0. "Amazing isn't it? Think of it. An entire place mostly untouched by human hands. Nature has the main control of this place and it absolutely shows. If you fancy a walk among her workings, we can definitely arrange that for you. You might see things no one else has seen alive. Ever."
Phantasm (Drago) has posed:
It's funny how when one focuses on something with one sense, the others tend to suffer. The brain can only process so many chunks of data at a time. Perhaps that's why people turn down radios so they can SEE where they're going better.

As Lucifer comes within the peripheral vision of the musician, he starts to become aware of his traveling companions a bit more. He nods to Lucifer's question, head tilting to the mention of 'mostly untouched'. "Mostly? Are there people actually living here?" Nick pauses, "Well, beyond this building that is."
Sinister has posed:
"There are yes. This is one of the only world-kept secrets on the planet that actually has a measure of moderate cooperation. This is on the need-to-know list for top brass since the Geneva convention. There are primodials here, humans that existed here, mutated here, became meta here. There's also Saurids and the whole place is designated a world heritage preserve." Sinister replies, then sucks on his cheeks a little. "Although there are some individuals in various stratas of society that would rather -certain- types did not have access to the wealth of information and study that comes with the territory. I'm therefore mostly under the radar, with quite a few pieces of scrambling technology to make sure I don't have all the work that's being done here, erradicated by a pissed off mega-government agent team."

He smiles crookedly at that, looks across his nose again at Nick. "Although I'm used to it." Looking back to Lucifer, he twitches his nose to the side, mock-miffed at his lack of abilities to bask in said aforementioned energies. "I suppose I shall have to make dow with the evolutionary advances and comparisons with the Saurian and avian life here, along with the rest of the biological data."
Lucifer has posed:
Lucifer motions back towards Sinister as the man diligently explains who and what all live here, and how it's protected territory and he's mostly under the radar here. "Very little if any outside influence as possible, I reckon. Though there's proof also - of I recall correctly - of alien technology in places here as well. It's really a fascinating melting pot of what the world -could- have been... or perhaps even -should- have been. Depending on what moral and social path you view it from." Offering this much before he finally turns and looks around. "I need a drink. How about you Nathaniel? Nick? Can I get either of you anything?"
Phantasm (Drago) has posed:
Nick gives a curious look to the mention of Saurids. There is the momentary temptation to ask what those are if there was mention of mutants prior to that. But being the topic had been on dinosaurs earlier and id tends to be used for collectives- Family units? Herds?

It'd probably have been quicker to ask, probably.

The mention of pissed off mega-government agent team gets Sinister a glance from Nick. Wait- didn't Sinister already know? If that's a concern, why would he be inviting Nick along?

Lucifer's bringing up of drinks, gets a nod from Nick. "I could probably use one as well." He admits, "Although I'm not sure what would be stocked in a secret lab situated amongst a lost land of dinosaurs."
Sinister has posed:
One must wonder if there are more agencies that are government affilated, that he DOESN'T quietly get along with. What, you think that S.H.I.E.L.D. hasn't occasionally benefited from the expertise of Essex Corp? In some areas, they are lightyears ahead of everyone else. And there's military applications -- the US government made quite a deal with this particular man, when Weapon X was being proposed. But there ARE some he deals with less cordially.

"I actually have a distillery here. Some of the local flora and edibles make some rather good gin and other such things. Plus, there's beer. And imports. Whatever you fancy, you can probably have, with the exception of low-alcohol alcopops. I don't do those. They put too many of the wrong additives in those and I disagree with them on principle." And again, -what- principle? Who knows.

"I'll have whatever you find that tickles your fancy, Luci." The doctor then gestures to the far side of the small lake, where a herd of styracosaurs have arrived to drink and wallow. "I always liked the horned dinosaurs. The adaptations they have are fascinating. Plus, they look like they're wearing crowned frills, which appealled to me." With their neck plates adorned with a dozen long spikes, it's a good protection from a lot of things.
Lucifer has posed:
Lucifer is a mixologist. No. Really. He has a license and everything. You can't run a bar and not know how to mix drinks as a bartender, and further you can't be a bartender and not learn how to make up drinks on the fly. Sinister mentioned gin. Gin isn't Lucifer's favorite alcohol, but Sinister is also right in saying that the gin here is a little more...unique.

So Lucifer goes off to the bar and makes three of the same drink. He calls it Jungle Water, but it doesn't taste anything like what one would expect with a name like that. It's local gin mixed with aguave nectar, curacao, and midori. Once they're all made, garnished with lemon and a marishino cherry, he floats them all back over and delivers one to Sinister, the other to Nick and keeps one for himself. "You know... if you wouldn't mind me taking some of this gin back to Lux, I could introduce this to some people who'll love it. Might even make a whole theme night off of it. We'll call it....Jungle Fever...and the cure... some Jungle Water."

He waits for the other two to try the drink and tell him how they like or hate it before he sips it himself. He's a bit impartial since he can't really get drunk anyway. "I'm a fan of the brontos myself. Remind me of girraffes only bigger....obviously...and I have to wonder just how long it takes for them to eat and digest food with those long necks."
Phantasm (Drago) has posed:
To the mention of a distillery, Nick's brows lift. There's no need to be a mind reader to figure out what he's decided upon. When in doubt, local brews at least once. (Unless they might kill you) You can get the brand name stuff pretty much anytime. So when Lucifer floats over a drink seemingly made from this, there is no protest, just a slight smile.

"Thanks." Nick offers to Lucifer as he reaches up for the glass. He takes a sip, glancing to the glass as Lucifer and Sinister reveal their favorite type of dinosaurs.

Nick is not quite so quick to offer his viewpoint. Does he have a set favorite? Velociraptor? Maybe a Pterosaur...well, even though those aren't quite considered dinosaurs.

One would think this type of conversation topic would have come up much earlier.
Sinister has posed:
The drink is taken, sniffed, sampled and approved of by the looks of the small, but pleased smile on Sinister's face. He holds the straw rather daintily in place, as he looks out toward the far side of the lake. "About ten minutes from the top to the bottom, but remarkably about the same time for the parasympathetic nerve system to realize that it's full. They have clusters of cerebro-spinal ganglion down their length, to speed up signals." The doctor grins toothily, then silences to observe the thought process that's going on.

"You know, the human condition is a funny one. You'd have thought, at some point, a childhood friend, a school trip would have produced the question as to what dinosaur is the best. If nothing else, squeaky bath toy ones that are wildly inaccurate must have factored at some point, as they're a dime a dozen in most dollar stores and when you have had a hard-knock childhood..." He slyly watches Nick. "Then again, I /like/ the horned. I admire the later therasaurs, as they have even greater evolutionary adaptations, like the ability to thermoregulate their internal temperature to a degree that alters the very genome markers of the resultant eggs, like crocoiles. But they are warm blooded, like mammals. That mutation was remarkable and I've seen it replicated in humans."
Lucifer has posed:
Lucifer glancing between the two seems to satisfy Lucifer's curiosity enough and he takes his own sip of the drink. "Mmn... I do like it...but maybe the midiri is a bit much..." He says, mostly to himself, but it's aloud enough the others could hear him and throw in their opinion if they want.

"Also, I can see how that would be beneficial. And I suppose it works backwards too right? To let it know when it's hungry so it'll eat before it gets to hangry levels?" He chuckles, cause to see a dino go into hangry mode would be....well...interesting at least? "Anyway. Shall we drink and walk? I'd love to go at least to the outer edge of the surrounding grounds..."
Phantasm (Drago) has posed:
As Sinister lists possible sources, Nick quietly crosses them off due to various factors, to talk to a childhood friend, you need one and the first real friend he got well- favorite dinosaur talk doesn't really happen amongst adults, especially when they're focused on doing everything they can to keep him from going back to Hell's Kitchen.

School trips generally cost money and require permission slips. And as for the age of bathtub toys...

It's amazing how having your perception of life as it is getting torn apart gets you a new understanding of what was going on in the past. For instance, he thought it was a money issue but the doctor had a point. Which led to another possibility.

Why would his mom buy him a bunch of extra items that would slow down the packing if they had to leave quickly again?

Nick sips his drink again.

Well, being it's about dinosaurs-

He lowers the glass, "...I think. Velociraptor."

Small but fast. Compared to the larger ones, a bit unassuming but- heaven help you if you come across its pack.

Lucifer's suggestion to drink and walk gets a nod. "Yes. I'd like to have more of a look too."
Sinister has posed:
"Well, we could head around the lake shore past the pens... the styracs don't usually attack, they're quite calm really." Because if you can't kill them, they just ignore you unless panicked. He gestures through several sets of doors and an airlock, with a ultra-violet sterilization light, to the world without of these walls. In the heat out there, the drink gets a different quality of refreshing, that the midori probably doesn't detract from. Just having wet an icy is a good thing. The scents are entirely different from the world outside of this giant caldera, also. Earthy, rich, plus more of that entirely unfamiliar 'dino' aroma.

The pens actually house several specimens, familiar to the devil but not to Nick. There are gallimimus that have been tamed, being studied and samples taken from -- there's pachisaurolophus that seem to be being trained to hit a target with their heads on command -- varieties of aquatic dinosaurs, mostly varieties of fresh water plesiosaurs that are also being trained, likely for underwater investigation and several armoured types, including their rescue, in a pen all on her own.

"Ahh, dionychus. I have a pack of them, they are actually rather excellent watchdogs and quite smart. Colourful too, but that all depends on what region they came from -- and they've developed rather excellent camouflage over the millenia."

With another glance to Lucifer with a sparkle in his eye, Sin asks of Nick. "Do you actually have any questions?"
Lucifer has posed:
There really is something about this place that just gives Lucifer a real sense of nostalgia. Just like what happened the first time, though he first has to down the rest of his drink and float the glass back towards the door so it's a safe distance from any possible breaking. Then, and likely a bit suddenly to Nick's vantage point, the Devil becomes the Serpent. Long and lime green on top, a pale yellow on bottom with peach stripes all across his form.

He immediately moves to wrap around Sinister's leg to slither up the man, around his belly and torso before comfortably resting against the man's neck as a snake-scarf. Tongue darting out every so often and beady black eyes wih red centers carrying perhaps something akin to amusement as his head rests against Nathaniel's left cheek.
Phantasm (Drago) has posed:
As Nick follows around, he takes his time looking to the creatures within the pens as they come across them. There's a long pause as he looks to the pachisaurolophus butting its head.

He glances back to Sinister, "What are you s-"

The sudden switch to snake catches Nick off guard, leading to him stopping for a moment to look immediately over to Lucifer. Quietly he watches the devil slivers up the doctor before snuggling up to the man. "-What are you studying with this one?"

He sips his drink once more.
Sinister has posed:
Sinister's attention shifts at the movement and transsubstantiation of self that Lucifer undergoes. He watches also as the serpent slithers up to his shoulder, smiling faintly before assuming a cheek rub to the serpent and a gentle rubbing of the flat and oblong head with a couple of fingers. "Do you offhand, know what the PSI of a ram's headbutt is, Nick? 800 pounds per square inch of pressure. Even the worlds best boxers can't manage that much concentrated force. It begged to be recorded and understood how much a ram the size of a pachi, could exert in PSI upon a target -- it's capable of extraordinarily destructive force. Those heads are capable of hitting harder than an industrial pneumatic jackhammer." It's very matter of fact. "If they were to headbutt you in a full on charge, you would break every major bone in your body and you'd end up with liquified and ruptured organs. The internal damage would be catastrophic. And yet... /they/ are capable of withstanding that force magnified by a factor of twofold." He gazes at the man. "Maybe you wouldn't want to know how, but there are many, many in the world that would."
Phantasm (Drago) has posed:
Nick considers the question. "...The same way a fighter would absorb a punch I'd imagine. It's either a glancing blow to reduce the effects or the force ends up getting redistributed over the entirety of the body, like shock absorption."
Lucifer has posed:
Lucifer is a serpent, coiled still around Sinister's neck, and is likely enjoying his time there. Though, after a moment, he will slither down from his perch and further across the ground for a time while the other two men converse. He'll likely revert back to human form after coiling around some things and maybe taking a dip among the water dinos.
Sinister has posed:
Watching the serpent that is the embodiment of temptation slither off, Sinister turns his gaze fully onto the Pachis again, for a while, looking at their form, their structure. "In a way. But how does that mechanism of absorption occur? In humans, we usually tense to receive and some of the kinetic force is transferred through the liquid matter we're made of, damage is still done to the tissues though; force meets force, prevents force meets tearing. With woodpeckers constant jackhammering, you would think they'd give coup-contra-coup concussion, but their necks act like a spring coil and their brains are small by comparison to their body size and have a larger fluid cushion...." he points to the dinos then. "They have a double thick skull with a hollow behind the top layer that's filled with cerebrospinal fluid colloid. Micro-hollows allow some of the 'wave generation' of impact to move out of one chamber to the next, like a sleuce spill. But the biggest adaptation is that some of the fluid filled chambers are non-neutonian and therefore absorb kinetic impact by making themselves solid. I've been attempting to find a way to make that adaptation into a workable armour."

He folds his arms, resting them on the edge of the pen, hipshod. "A lot of this is just study."
Phantasm (Drago) has posed:
Nick looks to the creatures as Sinister describes what is going on with the dinosaurs. "So they basically got bumpers on their head." He paraphrases, "There's some give to it but not enough to fully get to the more vulnerable parts."

He watches as another strikes the target. "Also the force they hit the target with is not the same amount of force that they get back. That combined with how they're hitting the target is likely lowering the force of impact drastically before the body even needs to concern itself with it."
Lucifer has posed:
Having had his fun among the water dinos and taking a dip in the waters of this secret research lab, Lucifer sliters out of the water and back onto the walkway. The serpent becomes the man again, and the man tugs at clothing to make himself look as put together as possible. He's not much of a clue on what's being talked about as he approaches the other two men once more. Watching dinosaurs bash things is fun though, and he does that for a moment in a silent attempt to get on board whatever topic is being discussed.
Sinister has posed:
"Essentially. Yes. A lot of the life here, has followed exceptionally unique paths. And as noted, it was originally protected by aliens of a benign kind. Unfortunately, they didn't leave an instruction manual on much of their technology, which is now millions of years old. Slightly problematic, I think. And no doubt something that might be a matter of international discussion, although if that happens, expect any resultant work efforts to replace said piece, to look nothing like the original, with half the functionality." He sighs, smiles at Lucifer. "Got it out of your system?"
Phantasm (Drago) has posed:
The state of the alien tech does cause a bit of a frown. He kind of missed what the tech itself does but did get the sense that it was important for here. Which leads to the eventual concern. "If the tech fails without a proper substitute, would that cause for all of this to go away?"

As Sinister addresses Lucifer, Nick turns his head to look to the devil in a less snake like form. He cracks a slight smile. He really can't make much commentary about Lucifer opting to go snake earlier, sometimes he feels the need to just go raven or wolf from time to time. He never really had the urge to do an aquatic animal on a regular basis though. It's more fun to fly.
Lucifer has posed:
Lucifer returns the smile as he gets to Sinister's side in a close fashion. "I did. The water was nice and the company tempered. I suspect my desire to serpentine in the midst of this place will lessen the more we visit... thank you for letting me humor myself." He offers this and then looks from Sinister to Nick. But he doesn't yet want to interrupt fully the conversation being had so he stays silent for the moment.
Sinister has posed:
Sinister presses his lips together at the question. "Well..." he frowns somewhat, looking at a different pen, at the feeding of the Galli's. His head tilts, hair escaping to do a black curtain that shadows half his face. Lips thin a little more. "When they created this place, they were aware of the techtonic land mass shifts, Pangea was becoming oceania and its other masses; thier calculations must have vectored for where the drift would ultimately house this place. Most of the technology is designed, as far as I can work out, to stabilize and create terraforming. Or rather meteoroforming and climate stabilization. Some of the devices therefore tap beyond earth's physical, to elemental planes, but those are the exception it seems, not the rule. But millions of years creates a few unexpected circumstances. On my investigations, I found several partially melted devices in the core of Erebus, imbedded in the lava." He looks from dinos to Lucifer, to Nick. "I just despair of comittees of any kind, coming to a consensus when it applies to fixing anything. All manner of compromises have to happen when in actual fact? No damn compromise at all was necessary in the first place. Some things really are black or white."

Looking to Lucifer, his expression softens. "We're never what we appear to be, are we? You should pop by on your own sometime. It might be refreshing."
Phantasm (Drago) has posed:
Nick is quiet as Sinister provides a lengthy response. Focusing upon what was being said, he tries to parse out the meaning but not quiet finding something suitable for his question in general. "So is that a 'yes','no', or 'I don't know?' "
Lucifer has posed:
Lucifer raises a brow at Sinister's suggestion to him and then smiles gently. "You know, I might just do that. When I need a respite from things. Just come here and be however I wish among the foliage and creatures here. They seem docile enough that I won't have any harm attempted at me." He offers this and then glances to Nick. "It's probably both. What do you think of this place so far though?"
Sinister has posed:
"Just avoid ophidiphages; snake-eaters, that is. A few things might try and that would be a shame," Sinister replies, nodding to Lucifer and with a slight eyebrow lift, regarding Nick again. Letting the man answer Lucifer, he then gets a thoughtful look as he walks beyond the pachi pen toward the stables, coming close enough to the rail that a couple of the Gallimimus come to snif at him and nudge bird-like for scritches and or treats.

"Yes, it would have a severe impact, no, it likely would not mean the end of all of this, because life has a knack of adapting. But it would never be the same -- last time an extinction level event happened, we lost an entire genus as we knew it and gained avians. And as to the overall impact? I don't know. It depends on if there's a cascade failure, or if repairs get made when they seem to be critical or not. Was that a better answer?"
Phantasm (Drago) has posed:
"Well, so far I like it." Nick answers, "I wouldn't want to be here all the time but-"

Once a city boy, always a city boy.

"I'm glad to get a glimpse of the place."

As Sinister starts to provide more explanation, Nick looks back over to the doctor. Lucifer was mostly correct. It wasn't both. It was all three. And then it's his turn to answer a question.

"Yes. Thank you."
Lucifer has posed:
"Yes. I've been down one digestive tract already in this lifetime. I don't suppose going down another would be a good idea..." Lucifer contemplates this before giving a shrug of his shoulders. He looks between Sinister and Nick as their conversation seems to hit an ending point. Maybe a lull. "How about we take Nick out riding on a dinosaur? Unless you think it's about time you got to work looking over the Anklo that we brought in. I mean I could stay here forever, but do have a business to get back to eventually." His eyes sparkle a bit at that last comment.

Course he could also always take Nick back to the city and then come back if Nick was ready to go. Adaptable. That's Lucifer.
Sinister has posed:
Mayhap that's why he seems to fit in so well, here in the primordial -- "Capital idea, if you feel inclined. The gallimimus make quite a comortable ride, as do the utahs, except that you do have to worry a bit more with them. Teeth and all -- but as I said, they're intelligent..." And Sinister might just be a little amused at that. "First time? I recommend the gallis."

But a moment needs to be spared right now, to regard Lucifer below lashes. "You, too. Unless you'd rather go bonkers in my kitchens for a while."
Phantasm (Drago) has posed:
"I'm not sure we'd like to see a dinosaur explode from trying to eat you." Nick adds to Lucifer's statement, a brow lifting to the mention of riding dinosaurs. "...We can do that?" If the musician was trying to play at being uninterested, his very tone of voice betrays him as being interested in the idea.

And then Sinister's listing the possible steeds available. E-

Ok Nick may have said his favorite dinosaur was a type of raptor, but that doesn't mean he's planning to ride one. Those will be a favorite, from a distance. A non-bitey distance.

"...Gallimimus sounds good."
Lucifer has posed:
"Oooh. You mean you and Nick ride on dinosaurs and I go make a meal worthy of you two coming back and feasting on?" Lucifer asks. He's been on the dinosaurs, he's seen the area in more ways than one.

And cooking for Sinister is definitely one of his more constant love languages.

"Which means that Nick can say he's seen, ridden on, and even eaten dinosaur..." Because what else would Lucifer cook in the midst of all this? "Perhaps I shall go do just that..."
Sinister has posed:
"I think there's been an aquatic catch, as there's a couple of injured and orphaned pterosaurs that they're studying. Should be quite a variety, their diet is quite varied -- including sea-scorpions. They taste a lot like crab, by the by."

Aaaaaaah, yes, that tone of voice. Hook, line and... "Very well. I'll have a chest strap put on for you, it makes for better positioning. You basically sit on their hips, lean forward over their backs. The chest strap gives you something to grab hold of." And along with this goes the explanation of how you steer. Which much like ostriches, isn't really something that happens much. But at least there's a sound for left and right and speeding up/slowing down is a matter of toeing and pulling on the chest straps!

Once in a lifetime, dinoraces? There's nothing quite like it.